JP4979141B2 - Pipe connecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

A coupling device for a tube includes a pressure element comprising first and second pressure element segments for exerting a clamping force on the tube. The pressure element includes surfaces that converge towards each other in a radial direction away from the tube and that are directly or indirectly disposed against support elements. The first pressure element segment is placed proximally and the second pressure element segment distally with respect to the tube. The first and the second pressure element segments are each provided with contact surfaces that abut and co-operate with each other at a predetermined incline in relation to the longitudinal axis of the tube such that during tension strain between the coupling and the tube, the first pressure element segment is caused to clamp the tube more tightly and the second pressure element segment endows an increased force on the support elements.

Description

【Technical field】
[0001]
The present invention relates to a coupling device for a tube comprising at least one pressure element for exerting a clamping force on the tube, the coupling device comprising at least one sealing mechanism and facing away from the tube. Surface, the at least one pressure element is implemented with surfaces approaching each other in a radial orientation away from the tube, and further coupled to each other and at least to provide a clamping force against the tube A support element arranged directly or indirectly with respect to the face of one pressure element.
[Background]
[0002]
Typically, the support element is implemented as a support wall. However, one embodiment having a support edge that provides line contact is also useful. For the purpose of explanation, these support elements shall be implemented hereinafter as support walls. The approaching surface of the pressure element may be flat, concave or convex.
[0003]
The connecting device according to the preamble is known from “Patent Abstracts of Japan volume 1998, no. 14” and JP-A-10-259890, as well as from European Patent Application 0794378.
[0004]
In JP 10-259890, a sealing ring is used which is arranged directly on a single-piece pressure ring, the pressure rings having surfaces which approach each other in a radial orientation.
[0005]
In the connection device known from EP 0794378, a sealing mechanism in the form of a rubber element is provided between the pressure element on one side and between the support wall and the tube for clamping on the other side. Provided. Furthermore, the pressure element of the prior art coupling device comprises a friction increasing surface on the side facing the tube.
[0006]
When the connection between the tube and the prior art connection device is subjected to a tensile force, the support element is arranged at a certain slope, so that it is overstressed on the side of the pressure element, The increased clamping force exerted by the element causes the sealing mechanism to improve the sealing action on the tube. However, the disadvantage is that the sealing action of the sealing mechanism located between the pressure element and the supporting element that supports the lower pressure and arranged on the opposite side of the supporting element that supports the extra pressure is worsened.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention and Means for Solving the Problems]
[0007]
The object of the present invention is to provide a coupling device in which this problem is avoided and the advantages described below can be obtained.
[0008]
Another object is that the present invention can be applied to connecting devices of various designs and embodiments. For example, the at least one pressure element used in the coupling device is a one-piece ring disposed around the tube. A structure for this purpose is known, for example, from US Pat. No. 4,886,304.
[0009]
However, it is possible to use a plurality of pressure elements which together form a ring around the tube, as is known, for example, from WO 90/07671 and EP 0690256.
[0010]
Of course, another possibility is to use a pressure element known from EP-A-0794378, the special structure of which is already shown to be followed in practice.
[0011]
A connecting device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from WO 90/07671.
[0012]
The connection device according to WO 90/07671 has a first pressure element segment and a second pressure element segment, the first pressure element segment is arranged close to the tube, and the second pressure element segment is connected to the tube. A sealing mechanism comprising a contact surface arranged farther away from each other, wherein the first and second pressure element segments are arranged to abut and cooperate with each other at a predetermined inclination with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube; Is realized as a sealing element, which is at least partly between the support element and the segmented pressure element on one side and between the tube and the segmented pressure element on the other side. Has been placed.
[0013]
The coupling device according to the invention is such that the first pressure element segment tightens the tube more securely while the inclination of the contact surface is the tensile force between the connector and the tube, and further the tension between the connector and the tube. There is a contact surface adapted to cause the second pressure element segment to exert an increased force on the support element on the second pressure element segment.
[0014]
This structure of the coupling device according to the invention enables the sealing mechanism to improve the sealing action in all respects while there is a tensile force between the coupler and the tube.
[0015]
A special embodiment of the coupling device according to the invention is that a third pressure element segment is provided with a support element in contact with its first side, and on the second side opposite to said first side. , Both the first pressure element segment and the second pressure element segment are arranged. This can provide a useful alternative for the above-described basic embodiment of the coupling device according to the invention.
[0016]
Desirably, the second pressure element segment exerts an increased force on the third pressure element segment when the tube is under tensile force.
[0017]
With respect to the sealing element, it is preferably arranged at least partly between the support element and the third pressure element segment on one side and between the tube and the third pressure element segment on the other side. .
[0018]
In all possible embodiments of the coupling device according to the invention, it is desirable for the first pressure element segment to have a protrusion that limits the movement of the second pressure element segment.
[0019]
This protrusion is particularly useful for increasing the force exerted by the cooperating support wall on at least one pressure element. Due to the inclination of the contact surfaces of the separate pressure element segments, the absence of this protrusion means that the mutual arrangement of these pressure element segments cannot be guaranteed.
[0020]
In order to further improve the effectiveness of the coupling device according to the invention, it is further desirable that the first pressure element segment comprises a friction increasing surface on the side facing the tube.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The invention will now be further described without limiting the scope of the claims by means of some exemplary embodiments of the coupling device according to the invention and with reference to the drawings.
The same reference numerals in the figures refer to similar parts.
[0022]
A first general embodiment of a coupling device according to the present invention will now be described with reference to both FIG. 1 and FIG.
[0023]
The coupling device comprises a sleeve part 1 having an insertion end 2 to the tube 10 and at least one pressure element 3 for exerting a clamping force on the tube 10. The pressure element 3 cooperates with a sealing mechanism 12, typically an element made from rubber, to achieve a seal around the tube 10.
[0024]
On the side facing away from the tube, the at least one pressure element 3 further comprises surfaces that approach each other in the radial direction, the orientation of these surfaces corresponding to the orientation of the support walls 9, 11. The approaching surface of the pressure element 3 may be flat, concave or convex.
[0025]
The aforementioned support walls 9, 11 are connected to each other using bolts and nut elements 8, and the bolts and nut elements 8 are tightened so that the support walls 9, 11 are at least one pressure above the tube 10. Tighten element 3.
[0026]
Both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show that at least one pressure element 3 is realized as a segment.
[0027]
FIG. 1 shows that at least one pressure element 3 has a first pressure element segment 5 and a second pressure element segment 4, the first pressure element segment 5 being arranged near the tube 10, FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which the pressure element segment 4 of FIG.
[0028]
As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and second pressure element segments 4, 5 have contact surfaces 7 arranged and cooperating against each other, which contact surfaces 7 are provided on the tube 10. It has a predetermined inclination with respect to the longitudinal axis 14.
[0029]
In FIG. 1, the inclination of the contact surface 7 indicates that the first pressure element segment 5 is adapted to tighten the tube 10 more securely when the tube 10 is subjected to a tensile force in the direction of arrow A. .
[0030]
The inclination of the contact surface 7 is further made so that the second pressure element segment 4 exerts an increased force on the support walls 9, 11 when the tube 10 is subjected to said tensile force in the direction of arrow A. Yes.
[0031]
As described above, the sealing mechanism 12 is at least partially between the support wall 9 and the segmented pressure element 3 on one side and between the tube 10 and the segmented pressure element 3 on the other side. It is preferably provided as a rubber sealing element arranged in
[0032]
FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the coupling device according to the invention implemented with a third pressure element segment 6. On the first side of the third pressure element 6 there is a support wall 9, while on the second side opposite to the first side of the third pressure element segment 6 the first side A pressure element segment 5 and a second pressure element segment 4 are provided.
[0033]
As already explained with reference to FIG. 1, the inclination of the contact surface 7 also causes the first pressure element segment 5 to pull the tube when the tube 10 is under tensile force in the direction of arrow A, even in this embodiment. It is designed to tighten more securely. Again, when the tube 10 is under tensile force, the second pressure element segment 4 exerts an increased force on the support walls 9, 11, but here in part a third pressure. Effect through element segment 6.
[0034]
FIG. 2 shows another preferred embodiment in which the first pressure element segment 5 has a protrusion 15 that limits the movement of the second pressure element segment 4.
[0035]
In both FIGS. 1 and 2, the first pressure element segment 5 is shown with a friction increasing surface 13 on the surface facing the tube 10.
[0036]
Within the structure of the invention, the structure of the coupling device may vary in several respects without departing from the spirit of the invention as specified in the appended claims.
[0037]
For example, it will be fully understood by those skilled in the art that the friction increasing surface 13 may be implemented as an inset, or alternatively the friction increasing surface 13 may form an integral part of the first pressure element segment 5. It will be clear.
[0038]
Accordingly, the above description of several exemplary embodiments of a coupling device according to the present invention is to be understood as being non-limiting with respect to the protection scope specified in the appended claims, which is to be given to the present invention. There must be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[0039]
FIG. 1 shows a basic embodiment of a coupling device according to the invention.
FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a coupling device according to the present invention.

Claims (6)

A connecting device for connecting to the tube (10) with at least one pressure element (3) for exerting a clamping force on the tube (10), the connecting device being on one side Arranged at least partially between a support element (9) and the segmented pressure element (3) and on the other side between the tube (10) and the segmented pressure element (3). Comprising at least one sealing mechanism (12) implemented as a sealing element, on the side facing away from the tube (10), the at least one pressure element (3) Surfaces facing towards each other in a radial direction away from the tube, and further directly or against the surface of the at least one pressure element (3) to provide the clamping force to the tube (10) Indirectly placed and connected to each other Supporting elements (9, 11), the at least one pressure element (3) being realized as a segment, so that at least a first pressure element segment (5) and a second pressure element segment (4) Wherein the first pressure element segment (5) is disposed close to the tube (10) and the second pressure element segment (4) is remote from the tube (10) Arranged and arranged such that the first and second pressure element segments (4, 5) abut against each other at a predetermined inclination relative to the longitudinal axis (14) of the tube (10). in coupling device example Bei the contact surface (7) which is, during the tilting of the contact surface (7) is, there is a pulling force of the tube (10) in the longitudinal direction of the pipe (a), said first pressure Element segment (5) tightens the tube more tightly, While the tube (10) there is a tension in the longitudinal direction (A) of the tube, the force which the second pressure element segment (4) is increased to said supporting element (9, 11) to the second pressure element segment connecting device, characterized in that it gives. A third pressure element segment (6) is provided on the first side on which the support element (9) is arranged, and on the second side opposite to the first side, the first pressure 2. Coupling device according to claim 1 , characterized in that both an element segment (5) and the second pressure element segment (4) are provided.   The rubber sealing element (12) is on one side between the support element (9) and the third pressure element segment (6) and on the other side the tube (10) and the third pressure. 3. A coupling device according to claim 2, characterized in that it is arranged at least partly between the element segments (6). When said tube (10) receiving a tensile force, claims wherein the second pressure element segment (4) is characterized in that exert an increased force on the third pressure element segment (6) The connecting device according to 2 or 3. 5. The first pressure element segment (5) according to any one of claims 2 to 4 , characterized in that it comprises a protrusion (15) that limits the movement of the second pressure element segment (4). The coupling device as described. Connection according to any of the preceding claims , characterized in that the first pressure element segment (5) comprises a friction increasing surface (13) on the surface facing the tube (10). apparatus.

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